Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek

Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek

Tiji is a colorful festival celebrated by the people of Upper Mustang. Upper Mustang is locally known as Lho Manthang and the people inhabiting this region are called Lhobas. Upper Mustang Tiji Festival is celebrated with great fanfare by the Lhobas. The festival is celebrated for three days. Tiji Festival 2018 falls on May 12-14 this year. The festival celebrates the myth of a man who had to save the Mustang kingdom from destruction. The word ‘Tiji’ is derived from ‘Tempa Chirim’ which means ‘Prayer for World Peace.’ Many foreign trekkers do the Tiji Festival Upper Mustang Trek so that they reach the place in time to observe this unique festivity in the Upper Mustang region of Nepal.

Lucky for you, this trip coincides with the end of the dry season and thus overlaps with the Tiji Festival, a spring-renewal party that ushers in the monsoons while celebrating the triumph of good over evil in a ritual locals call “the chasing of the demons.” Tiji comes from the words ten che, meaning the “hope of the dharma prevailing in all worlds,” the message Guru Rinpoche carried through this region over a thousand years ago.

Tiji consists of three-day of Tibetan rituals. The Tiji centers around a myth, which tells of a deity named Dorje Jono who must battle against his demon father to save the Kingdom of Mustang from destruction. Tiji comes from the word “ten che” meaning the hope of Buddha Dharma prevailing in all worlds and is effectively a spring renewal festival. The trek to Mustang is a spectacular walk through Himalayan terrain that contrasts wildly with the lush fertile hills and valleys located to the south of the main Himalayan chain. Mustang is a barren landscape with only a few small green fields dotting a lunar landscape, but boasts a remarkable spiritual heritage.

Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trekking combines through Mustang’s fascinating villages, alongside Buddhist shrines and temples and in the shadows of the Himalayas most iconic mountains, before arriving at the fabled walled city of Lo Manthang for 3 days of dancing at the Tenchi Festival. The terrain is rough and the altitude can be hard going but you will be in the safe hands of Himalayan expert Peregrine Treks and our team of Sherpa. Expect mainly camping (fully supported) with a few lodges and hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara for good measure.

During the Tiji Festival Trekking, the town square fills with characters clad as demons in flamboyant robes and hideous masks dancing about, slashing at the air with their swords and intoning spells over onlookers. Spend the day steeped in the sights, sounds, and movements of this once-in-a-lifetime cultural marvel. This three-day ceremony is lit up with colorful custom dress, dancing, music, and reenactments from the story of a deity and his demon father.

Date for Tiji Festival 2018 in Lo-Manthang is announced. The Teji festival will be celebrate 12 , 13 and 14 May 2018 in Upper Mustang

Highlights of this trip

Trek in the shadows of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna along the Kali Ghandaki River enroute to Mustang

Peregrine Treks’ representative will be there to greet you and transfer you to the hotel on your arrival in Kathmandu airport. Upon Arrival in the hotel your team leader gives some briefing about your trekking. If you arrive early, you will get a chance to visit Thamel.

Day 02: Cultural tour / Trek preparation

Today would be the most exhilarating day where your leader introduces you to our city tour expert who guides you to the most pious Hindu and Buddhist religious place that are listed in the world heritage sites and elucidates you the entire mysticism over its existence. This day you will visit Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Also, you have time to buy trekking gear.

Day 03: Drive to Pokhara / explore the lake city / stay at hotel

This morning we take drive to Pokhara, the second biggest city of Nepal, as per your requirement is very entertaining giving you ample opportunity to know how locals live up to drive through these winding roads in local bus which are often enormously packed.You have another alternative to go to Pokhara by flight.

Day 04: Fly to Jomsom and start 3 hrs trek to Kagbeni to start the upper Mustang TIJI trek

A twenty minutes short morning flight to Jomsom, the district headquarters of Mustang, through the world’s deepest Kali Gandaki Gorge with the glorious view of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri is exceptional. You can see great views with dozens of Himalayan giants poking into the sky.

Day 05: Trek to Chele (3050m/ 10,006ft) around 7 hrs.

Today we enter the restricted area of Upper Mustang . As said to be the desert of Nepal the valley widens with barren and arid surroundings with green villages in the middle that appears more like a mirage which is simply incredible. You need to walk on the extended trial with Kagbeni and Nilgiri mountain at the backdrop is dazzling.

Today’s walk is more into undulating trails with couple of steep climb and descents. Despite 6 hour walk the tremendous canyons with its unusual colour that opens out is extraordinary. In this bizarre the farming fields with rich red buckwheat and brilliant green and the south view offering you a panorama of Nilgiri, Annapurna, Tilicho Peak, and YakawaKang adds up to its magnificence.

Day 07: Trek to Ghami (3520m/ 11548 ft) walk approx 5 hrs.

From Syangboche we climb gently to a small pass of 3800m/12,467ft with extraordinary views of mountains and deep valleys into the wind eroded canyons. Today’s walk is effortless with few short climbs in between but beautiful scenery alongside would hardly allow us to realize the passing away of time and arrive at Ghami for lunch.

This short trek to Tsarang takes us into the ‘Land of Chortens”. This trail marks the history and legend of the Indian saint Padmasambhava (750-810 AD), the founder of Tibetan Buddhism who created a fusion of Buddhism with the original Shamanistic religion of Tibet called Bon – whose influence upon the Indian Buddhism makes Tibetan Buddhism so fascinating.

Finally we get to the plateau of Lo Manthang, ‘The Capital city and the Plain of Aspiration’ of Mustang. The fabled walled city of Lo, the kingdom with a single entrance is a welcome sight! The king, “Lo Gyelbu”, named Jigme Palbar Bista, still resides at his four-storied palace inside the walled city of Lo Manthang.

Highlights:

Fascinating solitary ancient chorten in the middle of the road after hour and a half walk from Tsarang.

The spectacular view of Lo Manthang, valley of Thinkar and Chhosar from 4000m pass of Lo-La.

View of varied historical ruined forts on the high hills is one of the highlights.

After lunch exploration into the legendary walled city of Lo.

Your group leader will organize various thrilling side excursion.

Day 10: Exploration of cave and monastery in morning and afternoon witness the stunning mask dances performed by monks in Tiji festival

Lo Manthang the capital city of Mustang contains about 150 houses and has some of the largest and finest Tibetan Buddhism gompas in Nepal. The city itself is absolutely fascinating place with four major ancient Monasteries which are impressive and an enormous 14th century palace imposing 4-storey building in the centre of the city.

Day 11: Explore the Summer palace and monastery in morning and enjoy the last and final celebration of Tiji festival in Lo Manthang in the afternoon.

Today we will walk to Thinkar for morning excursion to see the summer palace. Though summer palace is abandoned and not anymore in use yet its worth hiking around. Alternatively we can climb up the viewpoint hill just north of Lo Manthang for the stunning view of all around the valle. Rest of our day, afternoon and night we will be in the palace witnessing the Tiji Festival, the last day of festival which normally takes on open area outside of the palace.

Today we will walk different west terrain which offers you the most beautiful view despite few steep down hill trials. We visit the world’s oldest Tibetan monastery Ghar Gompa built around 7th century by the incarnated monk Padmasambhava.

Day 13: Trek to Kagbeni walk approx 7 hrs

We descend down to the Chhusang with a great view of Nilgiri and a wide stretch of Kali Gandaki is significant. Chhusang is another pretty old village with apple orchard, there are too many nepali and Tibetan songs sung portraying the beauty of Chhusang. We exit from the restricted area of Mustang and stay overnight in Kagbeni.

Day 14: Trek to Jomsom ( 2725m) around 3 hrs walk

This morning we trek along the wonderful trail through more Mustangi villages, where we will feast on delicious apples and see the traditional back-loom weaving techniques being practiced by the local women.

Day 15: Fly to Pokhara after the Tiji festival Upper Mustang trekking

We take an early morning flight from Jomsom to Pokhara – a fantastic way to round off the trek, flying right along the Kali Gandaki Gorge between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Catch further flights to Kathmandu. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 16: Drive back to Kathmandu

After exploring the peaceful lake city of Pokhara, today we take drive back to Kathmandu which normally takes around 6 hrs. Pokhara Kathmandu flight option is also available on request on extra cost.

Day 17: Mustang Tiji trekking ends / airport transportation

Peregrine Treks make sure to customize the airport transfer as per your flight details. If you have late flight, you are advised to go for shopping and buy Pashmina, Carpet, Nepali knife, Jewelers or you can visit Peregrine Treks office and return your trekking boots, Jackets and everything you want and then write a comment on our diary. Our airport representative will drop you at the airport in time.